CAO BRANCH

General Administration

Council’s 2019-2024 Lac La Biche County Strategic Plan was adopted on February 5, 2019. Administration is now working on a corporate business plan, which will help staff achieve the vision and priorities that Council has set.

By April 2020, all Albertan municipalities must have Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks (ICFs) and Intermunicipal Development Plans (IDPs) signed with their neighbours. ICFs and IDPs guide how both municipalities will deliver services to and develop areas near their borders. ICF and IDP agreements have been started (and mostly completed) with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Athabasca County, the Municipal District of Opportunity, the Municipal District of Bonnyville, the County of St. Paul, Smoky Lake County, and ID 349 in 2019. Administration will have all agreements completed by April 2020.

Along with Council, Administration tried something new and held open houses in November 2019 on the draft 2020 budget. The public dropped in and discussed County programs, services, and projects they’d like to see funded. Residents’ comments were incorporated in the final budget, which was adopted on December 10, 2019.

Health & Safety Health & Safety held open houses for County staff at various facilities, which made the program more accessible to all staff.

The department organized a variety of wellness initiatives for all County staff, promoting good nutrition, self-care, regular exercise, and more.

In partnership with the Workers’ Compensation Board of Alberta, staff set up an occupational injury service partnership with the Lac La Biche Associated Medical Clinic. This partnership provides quick access to medical resources when County employees are injured.

Human Resources

Human Resources assisted all County departments with recruitment, filling 85 regular positions and 65 summer/ seasonal jobs in 2019. Staff implemented new software to streamline the recruitment process.

The department organized training from NAIT to improve employees’ conflict resolution skills. Conflict resolution coaching was provided for supervisory and manager positions from Alberta Municipal Affairs.

An employee satisfaction survey was conducted through the Great Place to Work Canada organization, in which 158 staff participated. As a result, the County was granted Great Place to Work certification. Human Resources is now working with Senior Administration to further improve County working conditions based on survey results.

Lac La Biche County was approved for funding from the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association to complete the Measuring Municipal Inclusion Program. This program aims to measure and improve inclusion in Albertan municipalities. After conducting a survey in 2019, the County will create an action plan to improve inclusiveness in 2020.